Astigmatism Specialist

Mission Viejo Optometric Center

Optometrists located in Mission Viejo, CA

If you have astigmatism, it may cause bothersome blurred vision, headaches, and other symptoms. At Mission Viejo Optometric Center in Mission Viejo, California, Dr. Tanya Lau, OD, provides effective treatments, including innovative contact lenses and glasses, as well as refractive surgeries when necessary. Dr. Lau believes you deserve to view and navigate the world through a comfortable, crystal-clear lens. To get started with a comprehensive eye exam, call or use online booking to schedule an appointment today.

Astigmatism Q&A

What is astigmatism?

When the curvature of your eye is imperfect or flawed, it’s called astigmatism and results in blurred vision. Astigmatism is common and might occur along with farsightedness or nearsightedness.

If you have astigmatism, you might experience:

Distorted or blurred vision

Eyestrain or discomfort

Headaches

Difficulty with your vision at night

Squinting

Children might not realize their vision is blurry and should stay up-to-date with their recommended eye exams so Dr. Lau can detect any eye-related problems and signs of disease as early as possible.

What causes astigmatism?

Astigmatism is generally treatable and occurs when either the cornea, the front surface of your eye, or the lens inside your eye has mismatched curves. Instead of one single curve like a round ball or sphere, the surface is egg shaped with two mismatched curves, causing blurred vision at all distances.

If the light rays aren’t bent properly, a refractive error occurs that makes a blurry image. Astigmatism might be present from birth, or it might develop following an injury, a disease, or a surgery.

Some people experience blurred vision as a result of inflammation of the eyes, often attributed to an allergy or an underlying medical condition. Dr. Lau assesses your eye health and determines if you have astigmatism, and if so helps determine the best course of treatment.

How is astigmatism treated?

Dr. Lau diagnoses astigmatism during an eye exam involving a series of tests with various instruments to check your eye health, and a refraction to determine how your eyes bend light.

Astigmatism doesn’t typically necessitate corrective action.

Treatments include corrective lenses or surgery, such as LASIK. The primary goal of treating astigmatism is to enhance eye comfort and vision clarity. Corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses and contact lenses, counteract the uneven curvatures of your cornea and lens.

During LASIK or corrective refractive surgeries, a laser beam is used to reshape the curves of your cornea to correct the refractive error using different surgical techniques and methods. Other refractive surgeries and treatments for astigmatism include clear lens extraction and implantable contact lenses.

Even vision that’s slightly blurred can impair your cognitive functioning to some degree and lead to pain and headaches. To treat your astigmatism and improve your eye health and vision, call Mission Viejo Optometric Center in Orange County or use online booking to schedule an appointment today.